Shipping-crate.



c. J. PoBRsTBR. SHIPPING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.6, 1913. l, l 1 l, 146. Patented Sept. 22, 1914 j IIl vA? j mism i secured lin an ordinary `of the sides and bottom of the body poreHAnLns J. ronns'rnn, or Noem-t MILL, MISSOURI.

SHIPPING-CRATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, `CHARLES, J. Fonns'rnn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Noser Mill, Franklin county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shipping-Crates, Vof which the following is a specification containinga full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the `accompanying drawings,

forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in shipping crates, and the object of my invention is to construct an improved crate provided with a lid `fastening means designed so that an element of the fastening means contributes to the rigidity of the crate and wherein the fastening means may not be readily unfastened when in transit.

With the above purposes in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the `claims and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a crate constructed according to my invention having the ends thereof in section; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of my improved crate with the lid removed; Fig. 3 is an `end elevation of the lid; and Fig. l is a plan of one end portion of the crate, partly in section.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings:

5 designates the body portion of the crate which may be of any ordinary construction.

6 designates the crate heads which are manner to the ends tion 5,

The heads 6 are of ordinary construction, except for their top margins which are provided with the notches 7 at their transverse centers and the inclined face 8 leading in each direction toward the sides of the crate upwardly and outwardly from the notch 7.

9 designates reinforcing strips or handles located on the outside faces of the heads adjacent their tops. Formed in each strip 9 at its approximate longitudinal center is a notch 10 and spanning each notch is a stop 11.

12' designates the body `portion of a fastening device which is arranged vertically `of the heads 6 and preferably constructed of spring material. At its top there is an integral hook 13 arranged to extend through Specification of Letters Patent.

l .Application filed October 6, 1913.

Patented Sept. 22, 19111. 4 serial No. 793,754.

headt Extending upwardly from the hook 13 there is an inclined plane 14 which plane terminates in a hook 15 which preferably eX- tends downwardly andin the plane of the outer face of the strip 9.

16 designates the lid having adjacent each of its ends reinforcing strips 17, the lower margins of which are shaped to conform with the upper margins of the crate heads. Formed in the central portion of the reinforcing strips 17 are the notches 18 arranged to receive the hooked end 13 of the fastener, and 19 designates the metallic straps shaped to conform with the strips 17 and extending over the top surface of the lid 16. At the central portion these straps span the notches 18 to form keepers for the hooked ends of the fasteners 13.

When applying the lid to the crate, the position and shape of the reinforcing strips 17 facilitate the positioning of the lid over the crate, with the keeper portion of the metallic strap directly over the inclined planes of the fasteners. The entire lid is then depressed causing the keepers to spring the fasteners outwardly until the keepers ride entirely over the inclined plane, whereupon the hooked ends will be sprung in* wardly over the tops of said keepers and rest in the notches 18. bodies of the fasteners lie against the outer faces of the crate heads with their downturned extensions 15 substantially flush with the outer faces of the strips 9, said downturned extensions being within the notches l0 formed in the strips 9, where they will not be subject to breakage and where there will be a minimum of opportunity for their engagement with other crates or objects which would release the fasteners.

When it is desired to remove the lids the hooks or down-turned extensions 15 are engaged manually and the free ends of the fasteners drawn bodily outwardly to engage with the stops 11, thereby preventing a movement of the fastener beyond a safe distance or a limit of movement which would destroy the elasticity or tear the securing means of the fastener from the crate heads.

I claim:

1. In a shipping crate, a head having a notch in its top margin, a strip secured to the head and overlying said notch, a removable lid, a strip secured to said lid removed from its end and arranged to t into the ln this position the notch of the'head and means for detachably securing the lid to the crate.

2. Inl a shipping crate, a crate head having at its top margin oppositely inclined planes and a relatively deep notch interjacent the planes,V a strip secured to the head overlying said planes and notched coincidentally With the notch of the head, an elas-V tic catch normally occupying said notches, a removable lid, a strip secured to the lid, remoyed from its-,end and provided with inclined? faces and a projection interjacent the inclined faces, and a keeperV on saidv strip for coaction with said catch to hold said lid in place on the crate, substantially as set 15 forth and for the purposes stated;

In testimony whereof, Iqhaye vsigned my name to this specification, in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES J. FOERS'IER.v

Witnesses: 4

EL. VALLAGLT, n C. M. HARRINeiroN.`

Genies of-` thispatent may be obtained for ve cents each;V byad'dr'essin'g the f Commissioner of Patents,

1 Washington, 20.0. 

